== Bike-Walk Alliance of NH ==

BWA-NH Rail Trails home page

A dream of having old rail corridors serving the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians for transportation, exercise, commuting, recreation, and tourism received a major boost in recent months. Multiple projects are underway and BWA-NH is very pleased to report the progress and help when and where possible. With major support from the State of NH, community-based organizations, businesses, and residents along the rail trails, New Hampshire is starting to "connect the dots."

See the rail trail index page for descriptions and updates of individual rail trails.

NH Rail Trail News, April 2013

Much activity is underway around the state. Below is a summary of some details concerning the Manchester to Lawrence corridor which is part of entire Salem to Concord Bikeway Study approved by NH DOT in 2003. Note that four rail trail groups along the M&L corridor are working together under the name of the Southern NH Rail Trail Alliance so as to coordinate efforts and to speak with one voice. The larger statewide NH Rail Trail Coalition encompasses some 22 rail trail organizations for similar goals. While each group is independent and works within their own budget and staff, BWA-NH is the facilitator to help these organizations maintain contact with each other and to collectively deal with the state at all levels.

NH Regional Trails Plan may be of interest

The Regional Trails Coordinating Council comprised of many southern NH rail trail and hiking trail organizations released the first comprehensive plan in January. The current status of rail trails from Salem to Concord plus connecting trails allows everyone to see what is done and what is need to make a contiguous trail. Much work was provided by the Southern and Central NH Planning Commissions. The complete plan is available on this web site as a 10.7MB PDF file: Regional Trails Plan 2012.

For info on many rail trails and maps beyond just NH, check out the Rails to Trails Conservancy web site which is connected to Trail Links. Most of the trails are presented with a GPS track and a short description.

Rail trail user counts are always of interest when it comes to funding, proof of support, needs of a community or region, and the economic impact the users create for local business. A summary by date of ad-hoc NH rail trail user counts has now been added to this web site. Feel free to submit new and update figures during the season.

April 2013 updates:

Rail trail progress underway in Salem and Londonderry

With the winter snow and "mud season" now behind us, the Iron Horse Preservation Society (IHPS) is continuing work on the Salem Bike-Ped Corridor project along the old Manchester-Lawrence rail corridor. All rail and ties have been removed with a recycled asphalt surface to be applied along 2.5 miles of the 5.1 mile corridor in Salem. The remaining sections in Salem will be developed with funding from a Transportation Enhancement grant awarded in 2010 and local funding - but not from taxpayers. By June the completed Methuen MA rail trail should connect to Cluff Crossing in Salem then from the Salem Depot to Old Rockingham Road. A short ride on that road leads to the Windham and Derry Rail Trails into downtown Derry.

Continuing north along the M&L corridor, Londonderry Trailways secured $227K in town funding to pave one mile of their rail trail. Negotiations between IHPS and NH-DOT allowed old rail and ties to be removed from the Londonderry 0.8 mile section closest to the Manchester airport. Surfacing will be done later by Londonderry. Bottom line, progress is being made on the goal of creating the 115 mile "Granite State Rail Trail" from Salem to Lebanon, one section at a time.

March 2013 updates:

March 14 updates:

Work along Manchester-Lawrence rail trail corridor received a big boost on March 8 when NH-DOT authorized IHPS to remove the remaining old track and ties along Londonderry's northern end between Mammoth and Harvey Roads. The arrangement involves a "rail swap" which will benefit NH short-haul freight lines and NH-DOT while leaving the Londonderry corridor ready for surfacing. Existing 75# rail, too light for any current use in NH and deemed as scrap, will be exchanged for 100# rail on a tonnage basis.

Even more good news from Londonderry came on March 12 when the town voters approved Warrant Article 14 for $227,000 to pave one mile of the rail trail. This was the only warrant article not recommended by the town boards but the voters approved it with a 100 vote margin - close, but mission accomplished! Congratulations to all those who helped make this happen as the vision of the Granite State Rail Trail from Salem to Lebanon moves ahead, one section, one mile at a time.

NH rail trail development tied to active rail lines

A series of high-level meetings promoted by BWA-NH between the Iron Horse Preservation Society (IHPS, now building sections of the rail trail in Salem), NH-DOT, and short-line NH railroad operators have uncovered new ideas which might help all parties involved. Details have yet to be resolved, but the basic proposal is for IHPS to "swap-out" obsolete light-weight rail on abandoned corridors in exchange for heavier "modern rail" which will better serve the need of the active rail operators using track and corridors owned by NH-DOT. IHSP would pick up the old rail and dispose of old ties properly thereby allowing an abandoned corridor ready for construction of a rail trail.

The section under current consideration is in Londonderry, part of the Granite State Rail Trail vision going 115 miles from Methuen MA to Lebanon NH. Another section with different parameters involves Seabrook NH along the East Coast Greenway route. IHPS is unique as the parent company works with railroad, scrap steel, trucking, and major construction companies around the country. A little "out of the box" thinking just may help NH see more rail trails developed at little expense while the short-line rail operators and NH-DOT derive both financial and functional benefits. Stay tuned for the next update!

Northern Rail Trail the RTC trail of the month

The Rails to Trails Conservancy named the 52-mile Northern Rail Trail the "Trail of the Month" for March 2013.

"This is one of the best examples in this region of a trail that's being developed at the grassroots level," says Carl Knoch, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's (RTC) manager of trail development in the Northeast.

BWA-NH congratulates the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail of Grafton County and Merrimack County (two organizations) for all their hard work to develop this corridor into a true four-season trail. Earlier, snowmobile clubs used the trail and performed maintenance work on bridges, cut brush, etc. The rough, crushed stone ballast under snow made no difference to them but was not suitable for walking or bicycling. State oversight of the rail trail remains with the Department of Recreation and Economic Development, Bureau of Trails, while the corridor is owned by NH-DOT.

To view the complete RTC article and learn more about the Northern Rail Trail, visit the RTC web site. If the link becomes invalid, here is a PDF version of the article. The web sites for the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail - Grafton County and Friends of the Northern Rail Trail - Merrimack County provide a lot more info about this fantastic rail trail, part of the "Granite State Rail Trail" vision of connecting Salem to Lebanon with a 115 mile corridor.

February 2013 updates:

NH Regional Trails Plan released

The Regional Trails Coordinating Council comprised of many southern NH rail trail and hiking trail organizations released the first comprehensive plan in January. The current status of rail trails from Salem to Concord plus connecting trails allows everyone to see what is done and what is need to make a contiguous trail. Much work was provided by the Southern and Central NH Planning Commissions. The complete plan is available on this web site as a 10.7MB PDF file: Regional Trails Plan 2012.

Mid-winter publicity for rail trails

The above Regional Trails Plan and work being done in Salem by the Iron Horse Preservation Society prompted the Lawrence Eagle Tribune to write a front page January 28 article on progress being made in southern New Hampshire. To view the article on-line, click here but if the link is no longer valid a rough PDF copy is available here. The web sites for the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail - Grafton County and Friends of the Northern Rail Trail - Merrimack County provide a lot more info about this fantastic rail trail, part of the "Granite State Rail Trail" vision of connecting Salem to Lebanon with a 115 mile corridor.

January 2013 updates:

Salem Bike-Ped Corridor construction started

From late October through mid-December, the Iron Horse Preservation Society started work by removing 2.8 miles of rail and about 30% of the ties before the ground froze. Many ties are now stacked and bundled awaiting transport to Pennsylvania for ecological disposition (at a cost of about $5.00 each, figure 2,850 ties per mile) but they will wait until enough are available to make rental of the long-distance tractor-trailer rigs practical. Note that if work had been able to start in July or August as once thought possible, the Salem project would be done by now. Though no fault of Iron Horse, the paperwork and project approval process took longer than expected therefore the delays.

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Cyclist passing stacked ties on Route 28, Salem NH, parallel to future Bike-Ped Corridor

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More stacked ties along Route 28, Salem NH (12-25-2012 dt)

Londonderry Trailways waiting for answer on IHPS project

The remaining rail in Londonderry is now easily accessible thanks to the work of many volunteers who cleared the corridor from Mammoth Road to Harvey Road, about 0.8 mile. The question is now if Iron Horse will be allowed to remove that rail and in return build the basic rail trail for that section. At last report NH-DOT which owns the rail and the corridor was drafting a "balanced view" plan which considers the desire to continue building the Manchester-Lawrence rail trail at no cost versus the need for the old 85# rail for maintenance use on active railroad lines in NH. No work would be done in the winter anyway but by April all rail trail advocates are hoping to see Iron Horse working in Londonderry.

December 2012 updates:

Funding for the Recreational Trails Program (RPT) as used for many rail trails was approved by Governor John Lynch under the new two-year Federal transportation bill called MAP-21.

November 2012 updates:

NH Rail Trails Coalition annual conference held November 10

The eighth annual rail trails conference was held in Concord on Saturday, November 10 with about 30 participants highly interested in the many topics covered. Executive Councilor Ray Burton was the keynote speaker followed by five others. NH-RTC President Diane Hanley did a great job to organize the event and keep everyone to the schedule. Details will be provided upon request.

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NH Trails Bureau Chief Chris Gamache and Executive Councelor Ray Burton
spoke at the November 10 NH Rail Trails Coalition conference
as hosted by BWA-NH in Concord.

-- Londonderry Trailways volunteers cleared the rail corridor from Mammoth Road to Harvey Road in preparation for the rail to be removed - if approved. Work by NH-DOT in the Route 93 Exit 5 area is progressing well. With a Recreational Trails Program grant and a lot of hard work by volunteers, the entire Londonderry section of the M&L corridor is now cleared and grading started. Check out the latest news via the Londonderry Trailways web site.

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Volunteers cleared heavy brush from the corridor
between Mammoth Road and the airport.

-- Franklin work involved extending the Northern Rail Trail into Boscawen using RTP funds and many hours of volunteer labor by the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail-Merrimack County..

Grader driver "Fast Eddie" working on the
Northern Rail Trail in Franklin, 11-12-2012.

-- Derry Rail Trail offers a full three miles of paved surface from Hood Park to Windham past some very scenic areas. New mileage marking help identify locations along the trail.

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Derry mile marker "0.0" at Windham line; view south of Bowers Road crossing, 11-29-2012.

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Derry Rail Trail just south of downtown; info kiosk along trail in downtown Derry, 11-29-2012.

-- Windham Rail Trail continues to be the "model" for paved rail trail design and development in NH. Completion of the bridge over the new Mallard Road and continued improvements in the Depot look great! Next, to complete the 0.6 mile over the Route 111 bridge and connect the trail to Salem along with the additional trail-side parking lot on Route 28.

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Windham Station on left, Freight Shed on right.

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New ramp and platform past Freight Shed leading to the trail and Windham Station, 11-29-2012.

-- The Salem Bike-Ped Corridor past the Salem Depot, Tuscan Kitchen, and Tuscan Market is nearly complete thanks to Joe Faro, the Tuscan owner. Rest room and water facilities in the Salem Depot and use of the 50-seat outdoor patio at the Tuscan Market offer services for all trail users at no charge. This paved section of the trail is between Main and Willow Streets for a distance of 0.15 mile. It will connect to the trail being built by Iron Horse Preservation Society heading north to Windham.

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Salem Depot Station and Tuscan pergola along the Salem Bike-Ped Corridor, 11-09-2012.

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Rail trail on Tuscan Kitchen property and 50-seat patio available for trail users.

October 2012 updates:

-- In Salem, after months of delays caused by paperwork, Iron Horse started work by removing 2.8 miles of remaining rail along the 5.1 mile corridor. Progress on tie removal and building the trail surface is dependent upon weather.

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Iron Horse starting work in Salem, October 2012.

-- In Keene, the North Bridge spanning three very busy roads was officially opened with a ribbon cutting on October 27. The bridge consists of three steel section.

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Keene North Bridge, completed October 2012

August 2012 updates:

August 8, 2012: NH Governor & Council approve Iron Horse Preservation Society (IHPS) to work in Salem.

This precedent-setting vote of approval was initiated on April 27, 2010 when BWA-NH arranged the first meeting between IHPS and NH-DOT. Many meetings, memos, emails, agreement drafts, insurance considerations, on-site inspections, property value, labor and material estimates, and legal aspects over the past two-plus years have now resulted in the Salem Bike-Ped Corridor construction work approved to start this year. The value of the old rail and other track material to be removed by IHPS is less than 50% the value of labor and material to be supplied by them to build the basic rail trail along 2.6 miles of the Salem 5.1 mile corridor. Many details have yet to be resolved at the local level, but the approval by the State of NH was the key step before work could start. Many people at the local, state, and advocacy levels should be thanked and feel proud that this milestone has been reached. The Town of Salem and the Friends of the Salem Bike-Ped Corridor (a 501c3 under BWA-NH) will be working with IHPS to make the project a reality. The actual resolution approved today follows:

APPROVED - #148 Authorize the Bureau of Rail & Transit to enter into a Special Agreement with the Town of Salem, to salvage surplus State-owned rail materials with an estimated value of $198,750 in exchange for trail improvements along 2.6 miles of the State’s Manchester and Lawrence Railroad corridor with an estimated project value of $405,416 for use by non-motorized transportation, which will result in no cost to the State of NH. Effective upon G&C approval.


August 5, 2012: The Salem Bike-Ped Corridor project is one step closer to seeing actual construction now that NH-DOT has approved the Use and Occupancy Agreement. A second agreement to allow Iron Horse Preservation Society to remove existing old rail in exchange for building sections of the basic rail trail has been approved by NH-DOT and the AG's Office with a final approval required by the Governor's Council on August 8. Once fully executed, Salem must fund a $30K "silt barrier" along sections adjacent to wetlands before Iron Horse can start work, maybe in September or October.

July 2012 updates:

The Salem Bike-Ped Corridor project is one step closer to seeing actual construction now that NH-DOT has approved the Use and Occupancy Agreement. A second agreement to allow Iron Horse Preservation Society to remove existing old rail in exchange for building sections of the basic rail trail has been approved by NH-DOT and the AG's Office with a final approval required by the Governor's Council on August 8. Once fully executed, Salem must fund a $30K "silt barrier" along sections adjacent to wetlands before Iron Horse can start work, maybe in September or October.

The Londonderry Trailways group working to develop their section of the Manchester-Lawrence corridor into a useable rail trail received their Use and Occupancy Agreement from NH-DOT so they are now clear to proceed. Approval from the Dept. of Resources and Economic Development (DRED) had been received some time ago. Now all it takes is money, time, community support, and a lot of volunteer efforts to continue the dream of constructing the Granite State Rail Trail from Salem to Lebanon.

June 2012 updates:

With June 2 being National Rail Trails Day, here in NH we had a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new section of the Derry Rail Trail. A new "pocket park" right behind the former Derry Depot was completed last month by the Derry Rail Trail Alliance and community volunteers. Just across the border but on the same Manchester-Lawrence corridor, the Methuen Rail Trail Alliance had their ribbon cutting to denote their new trail extending through the city from Lawrence MA to Salem NH. The basic work on this rail trail was done by the Iron Horse Preservation Society at no cost while many volunteers have contributed hundreds of hours to make the trail a reality. Next, work in Salem is to get underway this season once all permits and agreements are in place. Within the next two years, cycling mostly off-road on the rail trail should be possible from downtown Derry to Lawrence for a distance of about 15 miles.

May 2012 updates:

On May 7 the Salem Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to approve the Use and Occupancy Agreement with NH-DOT. Next comes the Salvage Agreement which will allow Iron Horse to remove the existing rail and actually start work. "When" is the big question, but that is better than "If". Hopes are still high that contruction will take place this season.

On May 16, a section of the Salem Bike-Ped Corridor to be constructed from Main Street past the Depot, Tuscan Kitchen, and Dodge Grain was reviewed by Bill Scott (Salem Community Development Director), Linda Harvey (Salem Planning Board and Friends of SBPC Co-Chair), and Dave Topham (BWA-NH Director and Friends of SBPC Treasurer) with Tuscan Kitchen owner Joe Faro and Project Engineer Tony Hajjar. Everyone seemed very pleased with the plans and considerations of trail users, local businesses, restaurant guests, and Iron Horse to obtain all rail on the NH-DOT owned right-of-way. Joe Faro plans to build and pave the section of rail trail on his property by this summer.

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Joe Faro, Bill Scott, Tony Hajjar, and Linda Harvey reviewed plans for the Salem
Bike-Ped Corridor through the Tuscan Kitchen property on May 16, 2012. (Photos by DT.)

The May 3 article in the Hippo Press newspaper by Kelly Sennott covers eight pages and highlights most of the key rail trail projects in southeastern NH. The article was downloaded and saved as a 6 mb PDF file -- click here to view. Another file is really a case study of the Pinellas Trail in Florida. Just reading about the obstacles encountered, how they were resolved, and the net gains for the whole area should provide incentives to help us keep pushing our local NH projects along, even after set-backs, red tape, delays, and crazy problems. The 4.5 mb PDF file may be viewed here.

Meanwhile, basic work on the Methuen Rail Trail by the Iron Horse Preservation Society (IHPS) is nearly complete. The "T-Base" trail surface will be further compacted and smoothed by use and routine maintenance while a lot of clean-up action is scheduled by the Methuen volunteers. At least the basic corridor is now useable from the Lawrence line to Salem so other work can proceed. Iron Horse is ready to start work in Salem along the same M&L corridor once all the paperwork and permits are in place between the town, state, and IHPS. Here are some photos taken April 29 of the Methuen Rail Trail from the Salem town line past the Methuen Depot toward Lawrence:

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Methuen Rail Trail looking south from Salem and past the MSPCA, April 29, 2012.

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Methuen Rail Trail over the Spickett River (railing to be added to bridge) and
looking south toward the Methuen Depot on the left, April 29, 2012.

Meanwhile, paperwork is in process so Iron Horse can start work in Salem sometime this year. Once Salem agreements are approved, the Friends of the Salem Bike-Ped Corridor will be the advocate, volunteer coordinator, fundraiser, and publicity agent to move the project forward. Stay tuned over the next few months as Salem "gets on track" to have Iron Horse come to town!

April 2012 updates:

Work by the Iron Horse Preservation Society (IHPS) continues in Methuen along the M&L corridor from Lawrence to Salem with the rail trail expected to be complete in May. Paving using "T-Base" (recycled asphalt) started on April 9 while it will take several weeks to smooth the surface and grade the edges. A formal grand opening and ribbon cutting is scheduled for Saturday, June 2, to coincide with National Rail Trail Day.

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Methuen Rail Trail looking south from the Salem border.
Old ties bundled for pick-up at the Pine Street access point, April 2, 2012.

The Town of Salem has submitted paperwork to NH-DOT to allow IHPS to move north along the M&L corridor to build sections of the bike-ped corridor where practical in exchange for old rail and track components. Final approval is needed from the Governor's Executive Council since the old rail still has value to the state. For approximately 2.5 miles of track left on the five-mile Salem corridor, we hope to have IHPS build a trail with a hardpack or "T-Base" (recycled asphalt) surface. Some private funding via the Friends of the Salem Bike-Ped Corridor (affiliated with BWA-NH) is expected to provide amenities. Work along various sections is expected to start this summer. The goal is to build the trail from the Methuen border to Cluff Crossing in Salem then another section from Main Street at the Salem Depot Station to North Broadway Crossing. From there to the Windham Rail Trail, an expensive section along Route 28 is to be funded by a TE grant. Until that happens cyclists could use Old Rockingham Road through a quiet residential area to bike all the way from downtown Derry to downtown Salem.

The Hippo Press newspaper based in Manchester is to run a lengthy article on rail trails late this month. Members of the NH Rail Trail Coalition and BWA-NH are being interviewed for inputs. A link to the article will be provided once it is published. On April 6, Hippo Press reporter Kelly Sennott visited Methuen and Salem rail trail representatives for a review over breakfast then a tour of the M&L corridor from Methuen to the Salem Depot Station.

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Kelly Sennott of the Hippo Press on the incomplete Methuen Rail Trail (Salem behind her)
and at the restored Salem Depot Station on Main Street, April 6, 2012.

March 2012 Updates:

The Hippo Press newspaper based in Manchester is to run a lengthy article on rail trails late this month or in April. Members of the NH Rail Trail Coalition and BWA-NH are being interviewed for inputs. A link to the article will be provided once it is published.

Work by the Iron Horse Preservation Society (IHPS) continues in Methuen along the M&L corridor from Lawrence to Salem with the rail trail expected to be complete in May. A formal grand opening and ribbon cutting is scheduled for Saturday, June 2, to coincide with National Rail Trail Day.

The Town of Salem is completing paperwork with NH-DOT to allow IHPS to move north along the M&L corridor to build sections of the bike-ped corridor where practical in exchange for old rail and track components. For approximately 2.5 miles of track left on the five-mile Salem corridor, we hope to have IHPS build three miles of trail with a hardpack or "T-Pack" surface. Some private funding via the Friends of the Salem Bike-Ped Corridor (affiliated with BWA-NH) is expected to provide amenities. Unfortunately, a TE grant to develop an expensive section of trail parallel to Route 28 connecting to Windham was cancelled. Trail users may have to travel on Old Rockingham Road as a connection until one mile of off-road trail can be built.

The new bridge over Mallard Road on the Windham Rail Trail is complete so now the paved trail is open from Roulston Road in Windham to Hood Park in Derry. A new 30-car parking lot at the Roulston Road crossing and a 19-car lot at the Salem-Windham town line are planned for the Windham trail. This should help relieve overcrowded conditions at the Windham Depot parking lot. Plans are underway to extend the rail trail in both directions. Other sections along the Manchester-Lawrence corridor may be developed independently as permits, funding, and opportunities allow. Connecting all segments from Lawrence to Manchester is the obvious goal but time and money are required - and a lot of each.

Mark Samsel, President of the Windham Rail Trail Alliance
at the new bridge over Mallard Road, December 2011

February 2012 Updates:

Work continues on the Methuen Rail Trail by the Iron Horse Preservation Society. They have the benefit of a mild winter (so far) with little snow so progress is being made almost every day. For the most current news on this project, visit the Methuen Rail Tail Alliance web site.

January 2012 Updates:

Construction started on Methuen Rail Trail - Salem next! After years of working in the background to clear paperwork hurdles, on December 19 President Joyce Godsey and other members of the Methuen Rail Trail Alliance welcomed the Iron Horse Preservation Society (IHPS) to start construction of the rail trail along the old Boston and Maine Manchester-Lawrence corridor. The crew started at the Salem NH/Methuen MA town line and will develop the trail to Lawrence MA - and at no cost to the City of Methuen or anyone else. The rails will be "re-purposed" for distant projects, the ties trucked for safe disposal in Pennsylvania, the rail bed will be graded, a trestle will be decked, and a surface of "T-Pack" (recycled asphalt) will be applied. Work will continue through the winter as weather allows. Once this project is complete, the Salem Bike-Ped Corridor Committee working with the Southern NH Rail Trail Alliance hopes to obtain approval of NH-DOT to have IHPS start in Salem. Details are being resolved but the estimated start date in Salem is April 2012.

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Iron Horse Preservation Society starts work on the Methuen Rail Trail
along the Manchester & Lawrence corridor, December 19, 2011.

And for some trivia...

Rail removal along the M&L corridor in Methuen provided a close-up of the
"Weber joint bars". Made by the Richard Weber Co. in the early 1900's,
the bars included a wood insert to save steel. The creosoted hard wood
was generally in good condition, even to the point of being able to read
"WEBER" embossed on some of the wood. (Photos by Dave T.)

A new bridge under the Windham Rail Trail about 3/4 mile south of the Windham Depot parking lot was completed in December so the popular trail is now open for winter activities. Connectivity of two Spruce Pond housing developments required the new bridge construction which severed the trail for about two months.

With the Derry Rail Trail being paved from Bowers Road to Windham Depot, biking and walking on a paved surface is possible from downtown Derry at Hood Park to Roulston Road, Windham (behind Cyr Lumber Co.). The remaining unfinished 0.6 mile in Windham crosses the Route 111 bike-ped bridge and ends at the Salem line behind the Cycles Etc. bike shop where a new trail-side parking lot will be developed beside Route 28.

Londonderry Trailways is seeking to continue development of the Manchester-Lawrence rail trail corridor by having IHPS help build the very scenic section between Route 28 (Mammoth Road) and Harvey Road (adjacent to the Manchester Airport). Some obstacles must be addressed and overcome, most concerning paperwork and finances, not construction issues. While this section would not immediately connect to other paved sections of the M&L rail trail, it would serve as a useful trail unto itself for bike commuters living along Mammoth Road and Route 28 going to work on Harvey Road and other companies adjacent to the airport.

From Lawrence to Manchester, there is a lot of progress underway on rail trail development with the obvious goal of connecting all sections as envisioned in 2003 by the NH-DOT "Rizzo Study" for the Salem-Concord Bikeway.

December 2011 Updates:

A new $2.3M rail trail bridge in Keene crossing Routes 9, 10, and 12 on the Cheshire Rail Trail was started in September after being in the works for over a decade. Called the "North Bridge", various groups pulled together to secure funding from multiple sources; Pathways for Keene alone donated $100K with money raised from fundraisers over ten years. The need for a safe crossing of the three busy roads was highlighted on November 29 when a man was struck and killed by a NH-DOT truck when he attempted to cross. The need for a "South Bridge" in Keene crossing equally busy roads and connecting sections of the Ashuelot Rail Trail was stressed to NH-DOT by Charles Martin, NH-RTC President.


A new bridge under the Windham Rail Trail about 3/4 mile south of the Windham Depot parking lot is nearly complete so the popular trail will be open for winter activities. Connectivity of two Spruce Pond housing developments required the new bridge construction which severed the trail for about two months. A "new look" will await all rail trail users: fewer trees but a new bridge and road under the trail instead.
Other rail trail news includes the Derry Rail Trail Alliance (DRTA) announcing the completion of paving two-miles of their trail from Bowers Road to Windham Depot thanks to the Town of Derry and many local contributors. Trail users must go "up and over" Bowers Road or use the six-foot diameter culvert to make that crossing until funds are available to install a full-width 12-foot box culvert, about a $400K job which may be covered under a TE grant. The new section provides users to enjoy a paved rail trail from downtown Derry to the Windham Depot to Roulston Road, just 0.6 mile from Salem. That remaining 0.6 mile of the Windham Rail Trail goes over the new Rt. 111 bike-ped bridge and should be paved next year under a TE grant awarded in 2010. Trail-side parking at the southern terminus near Range Road and Route 28 (Windham-Salem town line) has been approved.

Other rail trail news includes the Derry Rail Trail Alliance (DRTA) announcing the completion of paving two-miles of their trail from Bowers Road to Windham Depot thanks to the Town of Derry and many local contributors. Trail users must go "up and over" Bowers Road or use the six-foot diameter culvert to make that crossing until funds are available to install a full-width 12-foot box culvert, about a $400K job which may be covered under a TE grant. The new section provides users to enjoy a paved rail trail from downtown Derry to the Windham Depot to Roulston Road, just 0.6 mile from Salem. That remaining 0.6 mile of the Windham Rail Trail goes over the new Rt. 111 bike-ped bridge and should be paved next year under a TE grant awarded in 2010. Trail-side parking at the southern terminus near Range Road and Route 28 (Windham-Salem town line) has been approved.

NH Rail Trails Coalition (NH-RTC) fifth annual conference was held November 12, 2011 in Concord at the SHC-NNE / BWA-NH office, 57 Regional Drive. Rail trail organizations and advocates from around the state participated and learned a lot about recent developments, projects, and funding issues. Speakers from the City of Keene, Carl Knoch of the Rails to Trails Conservancy, and Larry Keniston of NH-DOT presented much useful information. A special guest, Joe Hattrup, CEO of the Iron Horse Preservation Society, was able to answer questions about how his organization can build a basic rail trail at no cost to anyone. (The NH-RTC is affiliated with BWA-NH.)


Methuen (MA) Rail Trail Alliance (MRTA) finalized paperwork with the City of Methuen and the Iron Horse Preservation Society (IHPS) to build their section along the M&L corridor - at no cost for the basic rail trail. A ceremonial ground breaking photo-op by the MRTA was held on December 3 with actual work to be done during the winter as weather allows. BWA-NH has been coordinating efforts between IHPS, Salem, and NH-DOT to have similar work performed in NH, hopefully starting in Salem right after IHPS completes work in Methuen.

Methuen Rail Trail Alliance members announce the start
of construction in December 2011.

November 2011 Updates:

NH Rail Trails Coalition (NH-RTC) annual conference was held November 12, 2011 in Concord at the SHC-NNE / BWA-NH office, 57 Regional Drive. Rail trail organizations and advocates from around the state will participated and learned a lot about recent developments, projects, and funding issues. Keynote speakers came from the City of Keene plus Carl Knoch of the Rails to Trails Conservancy. Joe Hattrup, CEO of the Iron Horse Preservation Society, attended the conference to share ideas and network with about 30 attendees.

Londonderry Trailways has contacted NH-DOT about the rail remaining on their section of the M&L corridor and whether it could be used for an Iron Horse rail trail construction project. An inventory of the rail was taken by NH-DOT on October 28; next comes the value assessment. Meanwhile, Londonderry has outlined their plans for building the trail in segments as documented in their brochure.

The Salem Bike-Ped Corridor, part of the Salem to Concord project and envisioned Granite State Rail Trail, took another step forward when NH-DOT inventoried the rail components in Salem along the Manchester and Lawrence corridor on October 28. As a result of discussions with Salem Community Development Director Bill Scott, NH-DOT will assess the value of the rail and components. The Town remains hopeful that an arrangement can be worked out for a construction operation that would remove the rail and ties while simultaneously creating a hard-pack trail to create bicycle and pedestrian connectivity along portions of the M&L railroad corridor.

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Salem section of the Manchester-Lawrence railroad corridor
just north of Willow Street, October 28, 2011.

NH-RTC Board members met with NH-DOT Commissioner Chris Clement on November 2 to discuss the importance of rail trails in NH, major accomplishments of working with NH-DOT, current issues, and how our volunteer groups can best work with the Department for the best results with the least funding.

October 2011 Updates:

The Friends of the Northern Rail Trail in Merrimack County (FNRT-MC) recently resurfaced 2.5 more miles of rail trail at the West Franklin end of the rail trail extending its length that much closer to the ultimate goal of Concord, N.H. Thanks to a recent N.H. state Recreational Trail Program grant, the city of Franklin and lots of volunteer help, the rail trail in Merrimack County now reaches from the Grafton/Danbury town line to Webster Place in Franklin, a full 25.3 miles of wide and smooth rail trail with no more than a 1% grade change throughout.

With approximately 9 more miles of rail trail building to go, FNRT-MC is hoping to finish the job beginning with a major fundraising effort. Anyone interested in assisting either with trail maintenance or fundraising is encouraged to visit the rail trail website www.fnrt.org to contact the organization.

Manchester Moves donated $74K to the City of Manchester for use as the local TE match for the new Piscataquog River Bridge which will connect the west side of Manchester to the Goffstown Rail Trail. Dean Williams, Bob Dastin, and Greg Bakos took part in the presentation to the city which drew a standing ovation from the audience. Congratulations to all involved in this fundraising effort!

$74,000 check being awarded to the City of Manchester
by Manchester Moves, October 2011

Derry Rail Trail Alliance (DRTA) is pleased to announce the two-mile section of their trail from Bowers Road to Windham Depot is now paved thank to the Town of Derry and many local contributors. This provides a paved rail trail from downtown Derry to the Windham Depot to Roulston Road, just 0.6 mile from Salem. That remaining 0.6 mile of the Windham Rail Trail goes over the new Rt. 111 bike-ped bridge and should be paved next year under a TE grant awarded in 2010. Trail-side parking at the southern terminus near Range Road and Route 28 (Windham-Salem town line) has been approved.

Windham Rail Trail is temporarily severed about 3/4 mile south of the Windham Depot parking lot for a new bridge being constructed under the trail for a road to connect house lots owned by the same developer on both sides of the trail. The temporary detour on rough trails and town roads is not considered usable except by mountain bikers. Construction of the bridge should be completed by December.

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Roadway being cut through Windham Rail Trail, October 2, 2011
Note the fiber optic cable suspended in space.
Photos by Mark Connors (camera date incorrect)

Methuen (MA) Rail Trail Alliance (MRTA) is actively working with the City of Methuen and the Iron Horse Preservation Society (IHPS) with the contract signed on October 20. Actual construction of the rail trail is expected to start in November -- and at no cost for the basic rail trail. BWA-NH has been attempting to coordinate efforts between IHPS, Salem, and NH-DOT to have similar work performed in NH; hopefully right after IHPS completes work in Methuen.

September 2011 Updates:

Derry Rail Trail Alliance (DRTA) announces a two-mile section of the Manchester-Lawrence corridor between Windham Depot and Bowers Road in Derry is to be constructed starting September 19 with a target completion date of mid-November. This will provide a paved rail trail from Hood Pond in downtown Derry to Roulston Road at the south end of the Windham Rail Trail, just 0.6 mile from the Salem NH border. The total paved distance will be approximately 7.5 miles.

Salem NH is working with NH-DOT and the Iron Horse Preservation Society to develop sections of the rail trail in Salem at no cost. The aspect of having a basic rail trail built for the value of surplus or scrap rail is so different from the typically bidding process that innovative agreements must be created and approved by all parties including the NH Attorney Generals Office. Details are being worked with excellent support from NH-DOT and Salem, but the process takes time. Salem wishes to have agreements in place so that when Iron Horse works on the M&L corridor in neighboring Methuen MA they can continue north into Salem while the crew and machinery are in the area.

Londonderry Trailways is seeking approval to remove approximately one mile of old rail just south of the Manchester Airport. The remainder of the M&L corridor in Londonderry and all of Derry is devoid of rail. This means Iron Horse cannot help on the sections without rail, and any sections with rail must first be reviewed and approved by NH-DOT before any rail is exchanged for rail trail construction services.

South Manchester Rail Trail which runs parallel to Route 28 past Nutts Pond to Gold Street is to be extended to Goffs Falls Road next year thanks to a CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality) grant. Construction will include repair of a huge wash-out (a "slide") caused by drainage culverts that were not kept clear since trains stopped using the corridor maybe 40 years ago. The next section to the south will go over the Little Cohas Brook Trestle to Perimeter Road, around the airport to Harvey Road which then connects to Londonderry and south to Salem. Of course, "when" is the question!

August 2011 Update: The NH Rail Trails Coalition (NH-RTC) annual conference will be held November 12, 2011 in Concord at the SHC-NNE / BWA-NH office, 57 Regional Drive. Rail trail organizations and advocates from around the state will participate and learn a lot about recent developments, projects, and funding issues. Keynote speakers are expected to be Keene Mayor Dale Pregent and Carl Knoch of the Rails to Trails Conservancy. The draft program may be viewed here. (NH-RTC is affiliated with BWA-NH.)

Friends of the Northern Rail Trail - Merrimack County recently released three detailed maps (links below) of their section of the Northern Rail Trail plus a general map of the complete 46-mile trail from Franklin to Lebanon. Parking areas and rest room facilities are included on these maps which may be downloaded from their web site www.fnrt.org or on the rail trails page of this BWA-NH web site. Also, the "Golden Spike Ceremony" on July 31 was a success as that event marked the connection of the Merrimack County section to the Grafton County section of the rail trail allowing the full 46 mile trail to be useable all four seasons of the year. Congratulations to all involved in making this longest rail trail in NH a reality!

NRT map - Overview of complete 46-mile rail trail and facilities
NRT map - Franklin area
NRT map - Webster Lake to Potter Place
NRT map - Potter Place to Danbury

July 2011 Update: The Derry Rail Trail Alliance (DRTA) announced the section of their trail from Bowers Road to Windham Depot should be paved by October. This will provide a paved rail trail from downtown Derry to the Windham Depot to Roulston Road, just 0.6 mile from Salem. That remaining 0.6 mile of the Windham Rail Trail goes over the new Rt. 111 bike-ped bridge and should be paved next year under a TE grant awarded in 2010. Trail-side parking at the southern terminus near Range Road and Route 28 (Windham-Salem town line) has been approved.

Also, the Methuen (MA) Rail Trail Alliance (MRTA) announced work along the old Boston & Maine Manchester to Lawrence rail corridor leading into Salem is expected to start in September with services provided by the Iron Horse Preservation Society (IHPS) - at no cost for the basic rail trail construction. BWA-NH has been attempting to coordinate efforts between IHPS, Salem, and NH-DOT to have similar work performed in NH; hopefully right after IHPS completes work in Methuen. Use and Occupany Permits have been requested from NH-DOT by Salem as the first step to allow IHPS to work in New Hampshire. The permit will also include the M&L Londonderry section as Londonderry Trailways has joined the Southern NH Rail Trail Alliance.

June 2011 Update: A five-way meeting between representatives from BWA-NH, NH-DOT, Iron Horse Preservation Society, Methuen, and Salem resulted in agreement for a Use and Occupancy Permit Application to be filed by Salem to work on the M&L corridor in Salem and Londonderry. Bill Scott from Salem drafted the application using a template provided by NH-DOT. We expect the application to be approved as the folks at NH-DOT were actually asking for it.

May 2011 Update: Paperwork for the Derry-Windham-Salem tri-town TE grant for $1.2M as awarded in 2010 continues to move forward but a pace not likely to see any construction until 2012. Users of the paved sections of the Derry and Windham rail trails can't wait until the centers of Derry and Salem are connected. For the same Manchester-Lawrence railroad corridor extending south through Salem and into Methuen, MA, discussions are underway between the Methuen Rail Trail Alliance, City of Methuen, Iron Horse Preservation Society (IHPS), NH-DOT, and the Town of Salem with BWA-NH helping to arrange critical meetings in Concord. The concept of IHPS building a useable rail trail at no cost in exchange for old railroad is a new concept for New Hampshire so new guidelines must be established before any work is done. At this time, IHPS is likely to start work in Methuen this summer and would certainly benefit all parties concerned if they are allowed to continue north along the M&L corridor into Salem. Our June BWA-NH update will carry news of the meetings, hopefully with good results to report.


March 2011 Update: A meeting between the NH Rail Trail Coalition, NH-DOT, FHWA, and BWA-NH concerning how Transportation Enhancement funds are spent on rail trail projects was arranged by the NH-DOT Bureau of Planning and Community Development.

The meeting was very helpful to BWA-NH and NH-RTC to understand the pressures on the Department of Transportation and what can and cannot be done on alternative transportation TE projects. Clearly the paperwork and regulatory burdens are monumental. Rail trail groups need to be sensitive to those burdens and work to ease them where possible. In some cases, the TE mechanism may not be the ideal way to get rail trail work done. But for some projects, TE is the only funding source large enough for the project that is required. The meeting would have been particularly worthwhile if some of the cost saving ideas we presented could enter into the discussions of future projects.

Submitted by: Charles Martin, President, New Hampshire Rail Trails Coalition

December 2010 Update: The proposed Granite State Rail Trail got a boost from a National Parks Service assistance grant and publicity via the Valley News in the Hanover area. See the article which appeared on November 27, 2010. The combination of the Manchester & Lawrence corridor, the Northern Rail Trail, and a connection between them is the "Granite State Rail Trail" as proposed by the NH Rail Trails Coalition.

November 2010 Update: The fourth annual meeting of the NH Rail Trail Coalition members and guests was held at the BWA-NH Concord office on November 13. Approximately 30 people attended with the key note speaker being Craig Della Penna, a nationally recognized authority on rail trails who now operates a realty business specializing in properties along rail trails. The many rail trail groups attending the meeting gave 5-minute "mini-talks" on the status of their project along the proposed Granite State Rail Trail and the Winnipesaukee Trail, challenges faced, and accomplishments in the past year. A number of attendees who represented other trails did not have a chance to make presentations but ample time was allowed for networking during extended breaks and after the meeting. Encouragement and support were offered by Dean Williams of the Manchester Moves organization while David Preece of the Southern NH Planning Commission reviewed the involvement of the State of NH at the regional level. The all-day meeting allowed for ample networking time as NH-RTC makes plans to accomplish even more in 2011. Communications, publicity, and working with the entire NH bike-ped community were felt to be key action items and will be continued next year. Please visit the NH-RTC web site or contact Charles Martin via the site for more details. (NH-RTC is an affiliate of BWA-NH.)

The following photos show the November 13 meeting attendees viewing the key note address given by Craig Della Penna. Much was learned, and we thank Craig for all his support and information.

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Craig Della Penna at the November 13, 2010 NH-RTC annual meeting

NH-RTC members and guests attentively viewing Craig's presentation (1 of 3)

NH-RTC members and guests attentively viewing Craig's presentation (2 of 3)

NH-RTC members and guests attentively viewing Craig's presentation (3 of 3)

October 2010 Update: A ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 7 marked the opening of Phase II of the Winnipesaukee River Trail. This section of trail was the first "rail with trail" approved in the state. The trail sits in the railroad corridor which the State currently leases to the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. The trail association together with the WOW trail in Laconia, the Department of Transportation (NH-DOT), the Clark family who owns the railroad, and the Town of Tilton/Tilton Selectman put a great deal of effort into resolving technical, safety and liability issues so the trail could be constructed. The trail also parallels the Winnipesaukee River Basin Project (WRBP) sewer line. The WRBP and the Department of Environmental Services has also worked collaboratively with NH-DOT and the trail association to move the trail forward. The Winnipesaukee River trail will now be a 5.1 mile multi-use pedestrian trail that parallels the river between downtown Franklin and Route 140 near Exit 20. The 3.1 mile Phase I (Franklin to Northfield) section was completed in 2005. For more info, contact Ken Norton or Lauren Noether at winirivr@myfairpoint.net.

September 2010 Update: The NH Rail Trails Coalition announced the fourth annual conference will be held on Saturday, November 13, 8:45 am to 3:45 pm, at the BWA-NH Concord office in the Safety & Health Council suite, 57 Regional Drive # 6, Concord NH 03301. Admission of $30.00 includes lunch. For more info, please visit www.nhrailtrails.org.

August 2010 Update: Rail trail users come in all sizes and shapes using different means of non-motorized travel. Walkers, runners, roller bladers, and even wheelchair users take advantage of the smoothly-paved surface along the M&L corridor. On August 8, 2010, Salem Town Manager Henry ("Hank") LaBranche and his wife Pam were riding their bikes on the Windham Rail Trail when they met Viola Topham in her wheelchair being pushed seven miles by her son, Dave Topham. Two wheels, four wheels, or no wheels, rail trails are "For everyone, everyday." (A quote from the Salem Bike-Ped Corridor committee.)

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Viola Topham in wheelchair with Pam and "Hank" LaBranche
riding their bikes on the Windham Rail Trail, August 8, 2010

"Old News" in case you missed it!

July 2010 Update: The Granite State Wheelmen bicycling club offered $25,000.00 via ten $2,500.00 grants to the 22 NH rail trail groups. Applications were received, scored, and the winners were notified on June 10. Presentation of the awards were made at the BWA-NH Concord office, 57 Regional Drive, Suite 6 (in the SHC-NNE section) on July 29. All rail trail supporters, bicyclists, and guests were invited to attend the 7:00-9:00 PM event. Snacks were provided by the GSW.

The winners of the $2,500.00 grants are:

Derry Rail Trail Alliance

Friends of Northern Rail Trail, Merrimack County

Friends of the Goffstown Rail Trail

Friends of the Salem Bike Ped Corridor

Londonderry Trailways

Milford Conservation Commission

New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway

Pathways for Keene, Inc.

Windham Rail Trail Alliance

WOW Trail

More rail trail news

The Windham Depot project is nearly complete and the very unique "union station" looks great from the outside. This station served two rail lines crossing at a 45-degree angle so the building was constructed with platforms serving both lines -- a most unusual design!

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Windham Depot Station, June 19, 2010

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Windham Station (vents added) and Freight Shed, July 31, 2010

And let's not forget the fully-restored Salem Depot Station, about six miles south of Windham on the M&L corridor.

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Salem Depot Station, February 22, 2010

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Salem Depot Station, platform view, and looking toward Methuen. MA, August 14, 2010

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Details of Salem Depot Station including ADA-compliant access ramp
and granite post light (no lamp as yet), August 14, 2010

TE Grant approved for sections of the Salem-Concord Bikeway

The long-planned Salem to Concord Bikeway received a major boost via a $1.272M grant from the Transportation Enhancement program. The communities of Derry, Windham, and Salem will be able to build a paved rail trail connecting to the existing and well-used trails in Derry and Windham. See recent newspaper article for details. BWA-NH is pleased to have helped coordinate the many months of proposals, meetings, and paperwork which resulted in the grant being awarded. With only $6.4M available to the entire state for two years and serious competition for that money, being awarded nearly $1.3M is a major victory. Details will be forthcoming soon.

June 2010 Update: The long-planned Salem to Concord Bikeway received a major boost via a $1.272M grant from the Transportation Enhancement program. The communities of Derry, Windham, and Salem will be able to build a paved rail trail connecting to the existing and well-used trails in Derry and Windham. See recent newspaper article for details. BWA-NH is pleased to have helped coordinate the many months of proposals, meetings, and paperwork which resulted in the grant being awarded. With only $6.4M available to the entire state for two years and serious competition for that money, being awarded nearly $1.3M is a major victory. Plans call for a two-mile Derry section to be completed first, this connecting downtown Derry to Windham Depot and the full 3.5 miles of the Windham Rail Trail. Next to be paved will be the 0.6 mile section of the Windham trail, over the new Rt. 111 bridge, down to the Salem town line and a trail-side parking lot. The Salem section will extend the trail from the Windham line to Salem's North Broadway Cross with part of the trail to be adjacent to Rt. 28 in the area of Wal-Mart. Negotiations are underway with other options to build more of the Salem bike-ped corridor heading south toward Methuen, Mass.

May 2010 Update: On May 15, a ribbon cutting ceremony in Lakeport officially opened a new one-mile segment of the WOW Trail along the westerly shore of Lake Winnipesaukee. Issues concerning insurance, rail-with-trail liability, and a fence seemingly required to separate future trail segments from the track used by a scenic railroad have yet to be resolved.

April 2010 Update: The NH Rail Trails Coalition is comprised of some 22 individual rail trail groups has been working with NH-DOT, NH-DRED Bureau of Trails, and local organizations to promote the development of connected rail trails within NH. The most recent development involves Londonderry Trailways, Manchester Moves, and the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in determining how to route the old Manchester to Lawrence corridor around the airport. With local leadership from Londonderry, a walking tour along the perimeter of the airport was conducted on March 27. The proposed route will be formally presented to the airport and NH-DOT (owner of the corridor) in April. The route around to airport, and potentially connecting to the terminal, is a key link in the Salem to Manchester rail trail, that being part of the NH-DOT Salem to Concord Bikeway as proposed in 2003. The NH-RTC has proposed including this project in the overall Granite State Rail Trail which someday could have connectivity to many areas of the state beyond the immediate Salem to Manchester communities. BWA-NH is helping to facilitate NH-RTC and the individual rail trail organizations to see this concept become a reality.

On November 14 the third annual NH Rail Trail Alliance meeting was hosted by BWA-NH. Some 30 people representing 21 rail trail groups attended the six hour session with much learned and discussed. Representatives from NH-DOT and DRED were also available to answer questions. More details are provided on the press release for your review and distribution.

And on October 31, a guided tour of the Derry and Windham rail trails was conducted by the Derry Rail Trail Alliance and the Windham Rail Trail Alliance while BWA-NH provided some additional details about the entire M&L corridor and rail trail advocacy underway around the whole state. Details of this tour are provided here.

On October 28 BWA-NH coordinated a second and similar tour, basically from Derry to Manchester including the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. This was a very wet day but the only date key players would be available for the rest of the cycling year. Notes are provided here.

A July 22, 2009 tour involving NH DOT and local rail trail groups from Salem, Windham, and Derry was coordinated by BWA-NH. Notes from this all-day tour are provided here.

Reference items and links

Master BWA-NH Rail Trails Index for all known NH rail trails. Index is provided in town sequence.

The NH Bureau of Trails offers information about facilities including rail trails and hiking trails. Check out their web site for details.

Statewide Rail Trail map was created by NH-DOT in April 2009. The PDF file is downloadable here.

The Manchester-Lawrence corridor as being developed into a multi-use paved rail trail by Methuen, Salem, Windham, Derry, Londonderry, and Manchester may be reviewed in detail using Google Earth satellite views. The following link which highlights the original rail corridor was created by Mark Connors, VP of the Derry Rail Trail Alliance. Here is the direct "Tiny URL" link: http://tinyurl.com/ygx8bh3

Charles Martin's excellent book NH Rail Trails covers many aspects of rail trails in the Granite State. Please visit his web site for more info about his book: http://www.nhrailtrails.org/

The national Rails-to-Trails Conservancy offered a link to www.traillink.com, the Conservancy's trail finding web site. Under NH there are a number of trails that have interactive Google maps available. Descriptions of the trail directions and links to the management organization web site are provided if there is one.

This information was kindly provided by:

Carl Knoch
Manager of Trail Development
Northeast Regional Office
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
2133 Market Street, Suite 222
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011

Phone: 717-238-1717
Fax: 717-238-7566

E-Mail: carl@railstotrails.org

For a schedule of known meetings by the various NH rail trail organizations, please see the BWA-NH Calendar page.

Help us make this rail trail section more useful

This rail trail section is "under constant revision." Inputs from the respective organizations, newspaper articles, maps, and photos are desired. Comments, updates, and corrections are welcome! Contact BWA-NH at info@bwanh.org or call 603.898.9926.

Please submit via email any additions, updates, corrections, links, or limited photos to help promote your rail trail project and share ideas with others. By working together we can make a lot more progress than working alone, and to work together those involved need to know what is happening around the state - and maybe in your neighboring town. Let BWA-NH help publicize your project and garner support from the public. There is no cost for this service - we just want to make good things happen! Here is how to contact us:


BWA-NH email address:
info@bwanh.org

Phone:
603.898.9926

Postal mailing address:
Bike-Walk Alliance of NH
57 Regional Drive, Suite 6
Concord, NH 03301-8518